Sparking device for gas-engines and the like.



cut invention; Fig. line 2-2 in Fig.

FREDUS A. THURSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPARKING DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Batented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed June 15, 1904. Serial No. 212,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FREDUS A. TnnnsroN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sparking Devices forGas-Engines and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccon'ipanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for producing sparks for lgniting thegas for gas engines and the like.

Prominent objects of the invention are, to provide a simple andinexpensive apparatus of this kind; to increase the efficiency andeffectiveness thereof; to procure quick and reliable action; to secure alarge and brilliant flash; and to secure the above results in apractical and expeditious manner.

In the arrangement which I show herein for carrying out my invention, Iprovide mechanism conveniently in the form of a rotary armature with acooperating commutator, by which an electrical circuit can beautomatically short-circuited. The arrangement also permits theshort-circuit to be temporarily opened or extended to include a circuitcontaining a sparking device, such for example as an electromagnet witha make and break armature. The circuit also includes preferably aself-induction coil or some other suitableinduction device, so that ashort circuit is first made through the induction coil and then thesparking device or plug is instantaneously included in circuit andcaused to operate to produce sparks, The result is that the sparksproduced by the spark plug are of unusual size and brilliancy,and thusthe effectiveness and efficiency of the apparatus is greatly increased.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of thecommutator and armature arrangement embodying my pres- 2 isa sectionaken on v 1; Fig. 3 is aview of a detail of construction; and Fig. 4: isa diagrammatic view showing the connections of the arrangement.

Referring first to Figsl, 2 and 3, 1 is a metal hub constructed with acentral socket 2 and an outer flange The socket 2 re ceives a tubularshaft 4 '50 which it is secured by an adjusting screw 5 by which the hubis held in position subject to rotary adjustment as desired.

The flange 3 is consti'ucted with four projections 6, (3, and with inthis flange is a ring 7 of insulating material-such for example asfiber. Four metallic segments or contacts 8, 8 are carried by the ring7, being conveniently set into said ring so that their inner'surfacesare flush with the interior of the ring, or contacts. The segments 8, 8,are provided with threaded stems 9, 9, which are passed through theprojections G, 6 on the hub 1, and are insulated therefrom by bushings10, 10, of insulating material such as fiber. Nuts 11, 11, are providedon the outer ends of the stems 9, 9, and insulating washers 12, 12, arearranged between the nuts 11, 11 and the projections 6,6. A plate orcover 13 is fitted to the hub 1 so as to close the same. A rotary shaft14 is arranged within the tubular support 4, and carries at its end arotary metallic circuitcloser l5 whichis arranged to rotate within thering 7 The circuit closer 15 is provided with a contact device 16conveniently constructed with a sliding spring-controlled contact piece17. The circuit closer also carries a second contact 18, which latter,however, is insulated from the circuit closer by being secured to andsupported by insulation strips19 and 20 on. said armature. The contacts17 and 18;are adapted to come'into contact with the segments 8, 8, oneafter the other as the arn'iature is rotated by the shaft 14. It will beseen that the contact 17 will, when the circuit closer is rotated inthedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, make connection with eachsegment 8 before the contact 18 andwill also leave or separate from suchsegment before said other contact. Aconductor in the form of a brasswire 21' is supported by the flange 3 of the hub 1, but insulatedtherefrom by a bushing 22 of insulating material, as shown in Fig. 1.vThis wire 21 extends radially inward and makes connection with theinner end .of the contact 18. It is provided with a binding post 23.

The device thus described, is connected as shown in Fig. 4. One side ofa circuit 24 is connected with the binding post 23 so as to establishconnection with the contact 18. This circuit 24 preferably includes aselfinduction coil 25 and a battery 26. side is connected with theengine cylinder.

The contact segments 8, 8, are connected with conductors 27, 27 whichrun to spark plugs Its other 28, in the engine cylinders. This sparkplug can be'of any desirable construction, but is as a matter of furtherimprovement, constructed as shown and described in my application forLetters Patent, Serial No. 194,095, filed February 17,1904, This form ofplug consists of an electromagnet which" acts as a spark plug andis'provided with a vibratory armature which opens and closes the circuitby its vibration.

The-operation of the arrangement is as follows. As the circuit closer isrevolved and its contacts 17 and 18 connect with the 18, commutatorsegment 8, contact 7, and

thence to the other side of the circuit 24: by

the circuit closer 15 and engine frame.

When the contact 17 leaves this segment, the contact 18 remains inconnection therewith for a short period of time, thus breaking the shortcircuit and including the spark plug 28 in circuit, the connectionsbeing as before, except that the circuit is made from the conductor 21,and contact 18, to the spark plug, and from the latter back to the otherside of the circuit through the engine frame, Thus the circuit is closedthrough the plug 28 and said coil operates to make and break the circuitduring the time the contact 18 is in contact with the segment 8. Whenthe contact 18 leaves this segment, the circuit is broken and theoperation of the plugs 28 is discontinued. In this way the fourdifferent spark plugs 28 are operated, it being understood that thearrangement is for a four cylinder engine.

The arrangement shown is especially effective because the sparksproduced by the spark plugs, when the circuit is quickly and temporarilyclosed through them, are very large and brilliant, thus insuring theproper ignition of the gas in the cylinders.

It will be imderstood that a less or greater numbcr of commutatorsegments can be provided, and the circuit closer and commutator arangement varied according to the number of spark plugs or sparkingdevices it is desired to operate. It will also be understood thatchanges and modifications can be made Without departing from the spiritof the invention, and also that devices other than that herein shown forchangingthe'eircuit arrangements to secure the result herein mentioned,can be substituted for the com mutator arrangement herein set forth.

face of said ring, and make connection with said contacts thereon, saidrotary member being also provided with a second contact member adaptedto make connection with said ring contacts after the making connectiontherewith, of said spring controlled member, and a connection on thering extending to" said contacts on' said rotary member.

2. A circuit distributing mechanism for spark producing apparatus,comprising an armature and commutator, one of which is rotatablerelatively to the other, one of said members being provided with aplurality of separated contacts arranged in annular order, and the otherbeing provided with a pair of contact devices insulated from one anotherand arranged one in advance of the other, and both being adapted to makecoir nection With said separated contacts on the other member.

3. Av current distributing device, compris- ,8, 8, the contact 16 beingarranged in advance of the coi'itact 18 and insulated there from. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of Way A.1),, 1904-.

FREDUS A. TH URST( )N.

lVitnesses A. MILLER Bnm mu),

LC. LEE.

